What is a watt?

A watt is defined as a unit of power that is equivalent to one joule of energy transferred or converted per second. This means it measures the rate at which energy is used or produced in an electrical system. Understanding power as a function of both voltage and current is crucial; in electrical terms, power is calculated as the product of current (in amperes) and voltage (in volts). Therefore, when we say something operates at a specific wattage, we are essentially communicating how much energy it consumes or produces over time, which is foundational in both residential and industrial electrical applications.